ridiculous rating

I gave it a 7.5 out of 10

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.

The movie tries hard to convey some sort of political or social message, but it utterly fails. Instead it just shows some gun-slinging thugs with ridiculous names like "2Pac" or "50 Cent" smoking weed, shooting each other in the foot, or calling their homie Wyclef Jean. A plot is virtually absent. The political developments in Haiti are shown every once in a while by using TV footage, but there is only a very loose connection between this background material and the leading characters, so the viewer soon loses interest. The brutish and violent life of the ghetto-dwellers is exactly the opposite of politics: pure anarchy.

The way I see it, there is nothing wrong with having a certain point of view when shooting a documentary...I recognize the right of the director to have his/her own perception on the the events that pass before his/her camera or all the reasons...The same way, the viewer can judge a documentary, as an artistic expression of reality, as a comment on events/people or just as "history on film"."Ghosts of Cité Soleil" is a perfect example for all the above. Thats why you can either love or hate it. I am sure no-one will see this and just be "ok" about it. And not because of the reality (?) it presents, but cause of the point of view, and on top of it, the characters in it.Its a piece of art no doubt, but it seemed like a mockumentary with real blood and real pain, cause the main characters are used as marionettes. And yes, those people are puppets the way they are used by the authorities of all kinds, but I would prefer if the director tried to record that, to just showing us a PLAY of his own.Its almost a shame.

The little glimpses shown by the news broadcasts, can't give us much more than a taste of what is taking place in the world.... Ghosts of cite' soleil is allowing us to participate in a story going way beyond the usual glimpse, feel it when it is the most rotten, and is making us understand the background of certain actions taking place - politically, socially and mentally. It is showing us, what can't be read in any books, and is allowing us to feel what can usually be felt when actually being present, experiencing in real life! For those who wants entertainment and nothing but that, don't even bother! But for anymore with an interest in different aspects of life, with an interrest in history, in reality - don't miss it for the world -This is a great documentary! Sascha, Copenhagen, Denmark.

DOCUMENTARY - Taking an incredible risk Asger Leth documents the existence of the secret army, known as 'the chimeres', in the Haitian capital sub-slum, Cite Soleil - according to the UN the most dangerous place on earth.Former President Aristide has denied the existence of this government funded secret army, that spread terror in the ghettos of Port-au-Prince.Director Asger Leth succeeds absolutely in showing the total neglect by former president Aristide and also the complete misunderstanding of the situation by the American armed forces (or political leaders). And - mind you - Asger Leth succeeds without being political or biased by anyone or anything. This is journalistic documentary when it's best. At the same time some of the emotional-tools of film-making integrates smoothly within the faint storyline.That's the strength - and in some way also the small flaw. The storyline is simply too wage to manifest totally because the violence and roughness is so massive - that's why the 9 of 10 stars.It's a minor detail in the overall picture. A perception that 'Ghosts of Cite Soleil' is both a masterpiece and a necessity. It's a mindblowing insight in a horrifying world only 1 1/2 hours flight from Miami(US).And finally it's a sensitive emotional portrait of a group of peace-seeking youngsters with dreams, loves, losses and unbearable grief. No parents (they're shot dead), a few remaining friends (about to be shot dead) no schools, no jobs, no money, no future... All they have is this almost irrational faint hope, some cheap guns and a overwhelming struggle to survive.A tough but emotional and very well made documentary by Asger.A candle in chaos! Thanks mate :-)